Tech reviews: Assassin's Creed III, ZombiU, Under Defeat HD

Assassin's Creed III

ASSASSIN'S CREED III BRINGS LIFE, DEATH TO REVOLUTION

It's been said that history is written by the victors. Having that in mind brings an interesting perspective to "Assassin's Creed III," which trades in the drama and intrigue of foreign domains for one that's closer to home - at least for Americans and U.S. history buffs.

Set during the Colonial period, AC3 paints a tale that isn't quite as rose-colored as what some people might like to think. This time around, you mostly play as half-English, half-Mohawk assassin Connor, whose memories are accessed by descendant Desmond Miles in order to prevent an impending global calamity. As someone who loves watching history shows, I found the switch to 1700s America quite refreshing. From the architecture of colonial Boston to the fashion style of the period, the game does a good job of recreating the cultural and societal underpinnings of the time.

The gameplay itself is more streamlined. Parkour sequences feel smoother, thanks to more simplified controls, though it can be a bit wonky during times when you need more precise movements. Hand-to-hand combat is easy to pick up, providing different options for attacking and countering foes. The addition of naval battles adds another twist to the series' traditional offerings, including some extra "strategery."

Minigames and a plethora of side quests also give players a lot to do. Meanwhile, multiplayer returns with the addition of Wolfpack mode, allowing up to four players to go against AI enemies within a set time limit.

Overall, AC3 is another solid addition to the series.

Cost: $50-60, PC, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii U

http://assassinscreed.ubi.com/ac3/en-US

LONDON CRAWLING: YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE IN ZOMBIU

Oh, lord, not another one of these. That was my first reaction upon seeing "ZombiU" due to the simple fact that I'm one big scaredy cat. Then again, that doesn't stop me from turning off the lights at night, booting it up and giving my bladder a workout because I'm a professional, darn it.

Set in a zombie-infested London, the game has you playing the role of a survivor desperate to escape throngs of the undead. While the concept isn't exactly new, ZombiU adds its own unique twist to the formula. See, unlike James Bond, you only live once in ZombiU - if you die, that character permanently is dead and you have to start out as a new character. Not only that, you also have to find your now zombified old self and kill it in order to take back all your stuff. Add limited ammo and a penchant for nasty zombies to show up around corners and blind spots and you have the recipe for a survival-horror game.

The game integrates the Wii U controller by using it for things like inventory control and a zombie radar. It sounds neat in theory but also adds an extra dash of suspense because you could get attacked while fiddling with your touchscreen. A more hardcore survivor mode plus multiplayer also adds more options. ZombiU can be frustrating for folks, especially if they die and have to backtrack to get their stuff back. Survival horror fans, though, will want to give this a shot.

Cost: $60, Wii U

http://bit.ly/SSXxEi

UNDER DEFEAT HD: DELUXE EDITION GOES OLD SCHOOL

There once was a time when the term "shooter" referred to games like "Gradius" or "R-Type." These days, "shooter" in video game lingo often is ascribed to games like "Call of Duty" or "Battlefield." It's a testament to just how far classic shooting games have fallen in terms of popularity and mind share among gamers. Instead, the classic shooter genre now is affectionately called "shmups" by its remaining hardcore fans, a constriction of the term "shoot-em-up." Despite the genre's fall from grace, it still gets the occasional straggler from time to time. One of those is Rising Star Games' "Under Defeat HD," a remake of the old arcade and Dreamcast game.

Unlike "bullet hell" games such as Deathsmiles and Rising Star's own Akai Katana, Under Defeat HD trades off the that genre's crazy bullet counts and combo systems for a more straightforward shooting experience. Instead, the main gimmick for the game is a tilting aim system that allows players to angle their chopper to guide their bullets. The game's "New Order" mode also stretches out the screen to fill out TV displays instead of the vertical presentation from the arcade game. The new presentation makes the game feel a bit more hectic than the arcade original. Fortunately, the game also adds new twin stick controls that make aiming and moving easier. Ultimately, the lack of combos and impressive-looking powerups might turn off bullet-hell fans. Folks who like a more classic shooting experience, though, just might enjoy this one.

Cost: $30, PS3

http://bit.ly/R5xyvq

- Jason Hidalgo, RGJ

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Tech reviews: Assassin's Creed III, ZombiU, Under Defeat HD

It's been said that history is written by the victors. Having that in mind brings an interesting perspective to 'Assassin's Creed III,' which trades in the drama and intrigue of foreign domains for

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